Fantasy Collections

[Michael R. Fletcher]

So.
SF has The Year's Best Science Fiction (edited by Gardner Dozois). It is an amazing research tool for figuring out what's going on in short SF fiction.

The question: Does the Fantasy genre have a yearly collection of similar quality?

I've searched through Chapters/Coles and seen many collections but nothing leaps out as 'the one.'

Suggestions?

[kate.marshall]

I'm in the middle of reading "Year's Best Fantasy 6," edited by David G Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer (from 2005). It's not the first volume of the series I've read, and my reaction has been fairly consistent. The stories are hit-or-miss for me, but the "hits" are delightful. I always end up wishing there were more new/up-and-coming voices, since I tend to use "year's best" collections as a way to find new authors and new directions. I can find Neil Gaiman on my own, so however good his story, I'm less interested in it than the ones I've never heard of. I think either of those things is pretty inevitable in such a collection, though, and I have found a number of gems and new authors to follow.

So, I can semi-heartedly suggest that series. And of course, looking at award nomination lists can serve a similar function, if you're willing to do more legwork.

If you do find something spectacular, please share.

[Michael R. Fletcher]

The Year's Best Fantasy. It's a crazy title but it just might work.
I'll grab one tomorrow. I think I'll pick up a couple of others - pretty much at random - and see if there's anything notable.

Legwork that I can do while sitting on my butt. My kind of legwork.

I'll let you know if I find anything worth checking out.

Thanks.

[Scott H. Andrews]

I own several of the older Hartwell & Cramer ones that Kate mentions--#3, #4, #5--back when they were in mass-market (small) paperback format. I too found the story quality uneven, but if you can snag them say at a used book store, I think they're definitely worth checking out. The most recent one, #9 I think, was more literary fantasy than I prefer.

My favorite fantasy collection in the last decade is "In Lands that Never Were." (http://www.amazon.com/Lands-That-Never-Were-Magazine/dp/1568583141/) It's secondary-world setting stories collected from the last 30+ years of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine. So there are thieves and rouges and mages and cool fantasy worlds, but the stories are all excellently written.

It has classics, like an L. Sprague deCamp Conan story and a Frtiz Leiber Fafrhd & Gray Mouser story.

It also has lots of recent/current authors, including several that have also been in BCS, like Yoon Ha Lee ("Architectural Constants" (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=3) in BCS #2), Charles Coleman Finlay (co-author of "The Crystal Stair" (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=7) in BCS #3-#4), and Chris Willrich ("The Sword of Loving Kindness" (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=5) in BCS #1-#2). The Willrich story features his same thief duo characters Gaunt and Bone that are in "Sword." (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=5)

So if you like BCS-style fantasy, I highly recommend it.

[Saladin]

The last collection of this sort I bought was Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2008. There were a lot of wonderful stories and poems in there, but I was rather annoyed with the subgenre bias at work. Out of a couple dozen (!) pieces, there was basically one secondary world story (one of Garth Nix's excellent Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz tales).

Scott, that anthology sounds great -- will have to pick it up.

[Michael R. Fletcher]

Returns from his quest grumpy, hungry, and (so far) defeated. Too much leg in that legwork.

Chapters isn't stocking much of interest right now unless you want themed Fantasy Anthologies. I can't face an entire anthology of cat-related fantasy stories, no matter how much I like the little killing machines.

The only collection of interest was Warriors, edited by George R. R. Martin (can I have a second R?) and Gardner Dozois. Hardcover only, alas, and too rich for my blood.

Tomorrow I hit the used book stores for old Year's Best Fantasy and In Lands That Never Were.

[Scott H. Andrews]

...but I was rather annoyed with the subgenre bias at work. Out of a couple dozen (!) pieces, there was basically one secondary world story...
I hear ya.

I think it's also that there are few stories out there that are literary and adventure fantasy. So when the editors at the big anthologies are looking for fantasy stories with great literary merit, there aren't many that have secondary-world settings or classic fantasy elements.

Which of course is one of the reasons I started BCS--to get great literary adventure fantasy stories out there. The VanderMeer's new steampunk anthology will have the first BCS story to be reprinted in a third-party anthology ("A Serpent in the Gears," (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=72) by Margaret Ronald). I hope that, as BCS gets more visibility, that that trend will continue.

unless you want themed Fantasy Anthologies. I can't face an entire anthology of cat-related fantasy stories ...

The only collection of interest was Warriors, edited by George R. R. Martin ... and Gardner Dozois.
The theme anthologies consistently outsell the Best-of anthos and the single-author collections, so that's why they are everywhere. If you like the particular theme (John Joseph Adams has done one on zombies and a forthcoming one on wizards), they can be a good read.

GRRM's Warriors is an all-star cast of prominent fantasy novelists, like himself, Peter Beagle, and others. I will buy it for GRRM's novella set in the Ice and Fire world, his third novella about the characters Dunk and Egg. The first one, "The Hedge Knight," is every bit as good as his Ice and Fire novels; only 1% of the length. And you don't have to wait indefinitely to get the ending of the story! :D

[Michael R. Fletcher]

The used bookstore didn't turn up as much as I'd hoped. A couple of the Legends books (Novellas rather than short stories, ed. by Robert Silverberg) and one The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror (ed. Ellen Datlow) from 1996.
I may have to cave (and come out of mine) and shop online.
The Warriors collection does sound good.

[Scott H. Andrews]

A couple of the Legends books (Novellas rather than short stories, ed. by Robert Silverberg)
The first Legends anthology had GRRM's first Ice and Fire novella, "The Hedge Knight," the one I mentioned. I think it's great. When they published Legends in paperback, they split it up into three volumes; I think the green-colored cover one has that novella.

Legends II has the second (not quite as good IMO), and Warriors will have the third.

[Michael R. Fletcher]

Today's catch: Year's Best Fantasy 8 (David G. Hartwell), The Solaris Book of New Fantasy (George Mann), and Wizard's Inc (Martin H. Greenberg).
I'll go in search of the Legends 2 (I managed to get 1 & 3), and the Warriors books once I've worked my way through this batch.

If anything leaps out as spectacular (in either direction) I'll pass the word on.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Much appreciated.

[Scott H. Andrews]

Today's catch: Year's Best Fantasy 8 (David G. Hartwell), The Solaris Book of New Fantasy (George Mann), and Wizard's Inc (Martin H. Greenberg).
I'll go in search of the Legends 2 (I managed to get 1 & 3), and the Warriors books once I've worked my way through this batch.
The Solaris antho was hit-or-miss for me, but I definitely think it's worth a read. The Hartwell & Cramer 8 I haven't read.

The Legends 1, 2, and 3 paperbacks are the three parts of the hardback first Legends collection, broken up into paperback-sized chunks. Whichever one has the green cover is the one the very good GRRM novella is in. Legends II was a new second hardback collection featuring many of the same authors (including GRRM), but I don't know if it was ever released in paperback.

Do post back with what you think--happy reading!

[Michael R. Fletcher]

Quickie reviews as I'm apparently on day three of a hangover. You'd think by now I'd know better.

Solaris: Lot's of good writing. BUT...The stories happen in worlds previously created by the authors and the assumption is that you have read those stories and are intimately familiar with those characters. Some of the stories read as random chapters yanked from a book you haven't read.

Wizard's Inc.: Disappointing. None of the stories take place in secondary worlds. I have trouble suspending disbelief when the "wizard" is on his cell phone. Not to mention that there aren't really any real WIZARD stories in here! Perhaps it's just a problem with definitions, but there is more to being a "Wizard" than being able to use magic.

Perhaps Legends next.

[Scott H. Andrews]

Solaris: Lot's of good writing. BUT...The stories happen in worlds previously created by the authors and the assumption is that you have read those stories and are intimately familiar with those characters. ...
I didn't mind that a ton (I think those are all novels published by Solaris, so the collection is pimping their books :) ), but none of the stories really wowed me.

Wizard's Inc.: Disappointing. None of the stories take place in secondary worlds. I have trouble suspending disbelief when the "wizard" is on his cell phone. I totally agree there! Not for me. Haven't read this one and now will cross it off my list.

Perhaps Legends next.There is the same "in previously created worlds" setting thing in these stories, since it is all famous novelists writing in the worlds of their novels.

Some of those writers have never written short fiction and honestly aren't very good at it (Raymond E. Feist). But several others are (Stephen King, George R.R. Martin), so I think it's definitely worth a used-book or a library borrow.

Let us know what you think after you've read it!

[Scott H. Andrews]

There's a new fantasy short story collection out this summer that I'm certain a lot of BCS readers would enjoy: Swords & Dark Magic, edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders (http://www.amazon.com/Swords-Dark-Magic-Sword-Sorcery/dp/0061723819/).

It includes new stories by veteran swords & sorcery writers such as Michael Moorcock and Glen Cook, the literary S&S giant Gene Wolfe, and newer epic fantasy authors like Joe Abercrombie.

Mr. Anders in particular is a fan of BCS--he's posted here in the forums about several stories he really enjoyed, and he's the editor at Pyr Books who bought Erin Hoffman's novel set in the same world as her BCS story. So I'm certain his tastes in new S&S short fiction will make a great read.

[Michael R. Fletcher]

An Empire Unacquainted With Defeat, by Glen Cook (ala Black Company). Finally, a fantasy collection without cell phones and wizards riding the transit system. Most of the stories are from the 70s and 80s, but still a great read. Worth checking out.

[Scott H. Andrews]

An Empire Unacquainted With Defeat, by Glen Cook (ala Black Company). Finally, a fantasy collection without cell phones and wizards riding the transit system. Most of the stories are from the 70s and 80s, but still a great read. Worth checking out.
Neat! I've seen several new Black Company stories in recent anthologies, including Swords and Dark Magic, and I like his stuff. I'll check this one out.

I'm also so far enjoying Warriors, the anthology from last year edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. It has Martin's latest Ice and Fire novella--I always love reading those--and some great other names.

[Michael R. Fletcher]

Oh yeah, Warriors. I keep meaning to pick that one up. I think I'm sliding into an early dotage.

I should probably clarify: the Glen Cook book wasn't Black Company stories. I think they mostly came out of his early writings for the Dread Empire series.

***looks at book***

Ah yes.
An Empire Unacquainted With Defeat, A Chronicle of the Dread Empire.